Adjustable fence for compound miter saw

ABSTRACT

An improved adjustable workpiece supporting fence assembly for a compound miter saw, or other work performing device, includes a first fixed fence portion fixedly interconnected with the base of the device on one side of the saw blade and a first movable fence is movably interconnected to the first fixed fence portion. A second fixed fence portion is fixedly interconnected with the base of the device on the other side of the saw blade and a second movable fence is movably interconnected to the second fixed fence.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.

This a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/163,896 filedOct. 1, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,570, issued Aug. 6, 2002, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/600,907 filed Feb. 13,1996, now a U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,619, issued Oct. 13, 1998, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/329,766 filed Oct. 27, 1994(now abandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.08/088,266 filed Jul. 7, 1993 (now abandoned), which is a continuationof U.S. application Ser. No. 07/774,767 filed Oct. 9, 1991 (nowabandoned), and a continuation-in part of the U.S. application Ser. No.07/774,022 filed Oct. 9, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,463, issued Mar.29, 1994.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to compound miter saws, or otherpower operated equipment or machinery. More particularly, the inventionrelates to improvements in an adjustable fence for such power-operatedequipment, with the fence assembly having a fixed fence portion and amovable fence portion for selectively adjusting the gap between thefixed and movable fence portions in order to allow sufficient clearancefor performing various operations on a workpiece when the equipment isin any of a number of different cutting or working modes.

Saws and other apparatuses designed for cutting or performing otherworking operations on a workpiece typically require aworkpiece-supporting fence assembly in order to support and locate theworkpiece in a proper fixed position for performing the workingoperation. Examples of such equipment include compound miter saws, whichare adapted for allowing the user to selectively move the saw blade intoany of a number or positions or modes for square cutting, miter cutting,bevel cutting, or compound cutting where a combination miter and bevelare cut. In addition, some operations, such as dado cutting or shapingoperations, for example, require the use of saw blades or other cuttingor working devices of different shapes or sizes to be substituted forone another in order to perform the desired operation on the workpiece,whether the workpiece is composed of wood, plastic, metal, or othermaterials.

In order to accommodate these widely varied working operations, theworkpiece-supporting fence is frequently required to be at leastpartially adjustable in order to selectively vary the gap or spacebetween a fixed and a movable portion of the workpiece-supporting fence,thus selectively providing clearance for the saw blade, cutter, or otherdevice performing the working operation on the workpiece. If suchadjustability were not provided, a relatively large permanent gap wouldhave to be provided between portions of the fence in order toaccommodate the widely varying range of movement, position, or size ofthe saw blade, cutter, or other working device. Thus, in order toprovide adequate workpiece support when performing operations that donot require such large clearance, the above mentioned adjustable fenceassemblies, having at least one movable fence portion, have frequentlybeen provided.

In order to address the above-discussed problems associated with theprovision of a fence assembly having an adjustable clearance gap, avariety of fence-adjusting arrangements have previously been provided.However, many of such prior fence-adjusting arrangements have sufferedvarious disadvantages, including difficulty in maintaining properalignment between the relatively movable fence portions in wide-gappositions, inconvenience in performing fence adjustment operations, thepossibility of inadvertently misplacing a removable fence portion, lackof adequate support for relatively tall or thick workpieces, or othersimilar disadvantages. Thus, the need has arisen for an adjustable fencefor compound miter saws, or other power equipment requiring fenceadjustability, which overcomes these disadvantages, as well as providingimproved ease of operation, economy in manufacturing, and otheradvantages that will become readily apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the discussion below.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved adjustableworkpiece-supporting fence assembly includes a fixed fence portionfixedly interconnected with the base of the device in which it isemployed, with the fixed fence portion being disposed on one side of thesaw blade, the workpiece cutter, or other such device for performing aworking operation on a workpiece. A movable fence portion is selectivelyand laterally movably interconnected with the frame on the opposite sideof the work-performing blade or cutter and is laterally spaced from thefixed fence portion. The base or other portion of the device in onepreferred form of the invention includes a fence-supporting portionfixedly disposed on the same opposite side of the blade or cutter, witha laterally-extending slot formed therein. The slot, which preferablyhas spaced opposite internal walls therein, is adapted to receive alaterally-extending tongue portion of the movable fence, with the tonguebeing slidably received within the slot for selective adjustable lateralmovement of the movable fence toward and away from the fixed fence.

In such preferred embodiments of the present invention, a fixed clampingarrangement is interconnected with the fixed fence-supporting portionfor releasably and clampingly urging the tongue on the movable fenceportion against a first of the slot's internal walls at any of a numberof adjusted positions therein. In addition, a movable clampingarrangement Is fixedly interconnected with the movable fence portion formovement therewith and is adapted for releasably and clampingly urgingthe tongue portion against the same first internal wall of the slot atany number of the adjusted positions. Preferably, the fixed and movableclamping mechanisms are located to provide the greatest possible lateralspacing therebetween, and thus the maximum alignment and stability, whenthe movable fence portion is adjusted to a position wherein the lateralspacing or gap between the fixed and movable fence portion is at itsminimum.

In order to accomplish the above arrangement, the preferred movableclamping mechanism includes a clamping plate pivotally interconnectedwith the movable fence portion and having an abutment portion pivotallymovable into and out of clamping engagement with the second, oppositeinternal wall portion of the slot. Such pivotal movement of the clampingplate abutment portion into clamping engagement with the oppositeinternal wall portion of the slot causes a reactive force thatclampingly urges the tongue portion of the movable fence against thefirst internal wall portion of the slot. This arrangement adjustablysecures the movable fence portion at any of a number of selectivelyadjustable lateral positions relative to the fixed fence portion,regardless of the size of the fence clearance gap.

In addition, the preferred embodiments of the present invention alsoinclude a raised portion of the movable fence, with such raised portionbeing configured to interferingly engage with the saw blade assembly andguard, or other such movable work performing device, withoutinadvertently damaging the movable fence in order to alert the operatorthat the movable fence has not been properly adjusted for the workpiececutting or forming operation being attempted. Such raised portion of themovable fence, as well as a similar raised portion of the fixed fenceportion, provides a significant advantage when cutting or workingthicker or taller workpieces.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description and the appendedclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary compound miter sawaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the compound miter saw of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the compound miter saw of FIGS. 1and 2.

FIG. 4 is a left and elevational view of the compound miter saw of FIGS.1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view diagram of the compound miter saw ofFIGS. 1 through 4, schematically illustrating the position of the sawblade relative to the workpiece-supporting fence in both a straightcross-cut position and in a miter-cutting position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, similar to that of FIG. 5, but shown inan elevational view and illustrating the position of the saw bladerelative to the workpiece supporting fence when in both a straightcross-cut position and in a beval-cutting position.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram, looking from the rear of the saw,depicting the fully extended and fully retracted positions of a movableportion of the work-supporting fence.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the work-supporting fence ofthe exemplary compound miter saw illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, takengenerally along line 7—7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 7, but takengenerally along line 8—8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of the preferred interferingrelationship of the saw blade guard with the movable portion of thework-supporting fence assembly for alerting the operator that themovable portion of the fence assembly has not been properly adjusted forthe operation being performed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation illustrating the provision of amovable portion of the fence assembly on each lateral side of anexemplary compound miter saw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals designatelike or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1through 10 illustrate an exemplary compound miter saw having anadjustable fence assembly according to the present invention, shownmerely for purposes of illustration. One skilled in the art will readilyrecognize from the following description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and claims, that the principles of the inventionare equally applicable to compound miter saws or saws of types otherthan that shown for purposes of illustration in the drawings. Similarly,one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the principles of anadjustable fence according to the invention are also applicable to othertypes of powered, or even unpowered, equipment for performing anoperation on a workpiece. Such equipment includes non-compound mitersaws, dado saws, spindle shapers or sanders, or other types of poweredor unpowered devices that require selective adjustment of the gap orspacing in the fence assembly in order to accommodate different sizes orpositions of tooling, or to perform various different workpiece workingoperations.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 through 4, an exemplary compound mitersaw 10 according to the present invention typically includes a baseassembly 12, including a table assembly 13, which is preferablyrotatable in order to accommodate the various cutting modes discussedbelow. The saw 10 also includes a saw blade 14, at least partiallyendosed by a blade guard 16 and driven by a motor 17, and a handle 18,which allows the operator to move the saw blade 14 and the blade guard16 from a clear position free of a workpiece 11 to a cutting positionwith the saw blade 14 in cutting engagement with the workpiece 11.

As is conventional in this type of equipment, a fence assembly,indicated generally by reference numeral 20, is interconnected with thebase 12 and extends laterally across the table assembly 13, againstwhich the workpiece 11 Is fixedly positioned and supported forperforming a cutting operation thereon. According to the presentinvention, the fence assembly 20 includes a fixed fence portion 22 and amovable fence portion 24, with the fixed and movable fence portions 22and 24, respectively, extending in a mutually aligned lateral direction,with the movable fence portion 24 being laterally spaced away from thefixed fence portion 22. Such lateral spacing or gap between the fixedand movable fence portions 22 and 24, respectively, provides clearancefor the saw blade to perform a cutting operation completely through theworkpiece 11, regardless of the mode or type of cutting operating beingperformed. As is discussed in more detail below, the movable fenceportion 24 is laterally movable toward and away from the fixed fenceportion 22 in order to allow the operator to selectively adjust theclearance gap therebetween and thus accommodate the particular cuttingoperation being performed.

As is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the exemplary compoundmiter saw 10 depicted in the drawings is capable of a number ofdifferent cutting modes or positions. In FIG. 5, a schematic plan viewgenerally illustrates the position of the saw blade 14 relative to theframe 12 and the fence assembly 20 when performing straight cross-cut orso-called straight miter-cutting operations. Such straight, square,cross-cut cutting operation is schematically illustrated by the positionof the components of the compound miter saw 10 shown in solid lines inFIG. 5, with the movable fence portion 24 having been selectivelyadjusted to provide the minimum required clearance gap between the fixedand movable fence portions 22 and 24, respectively, with the saw bladebeing moved into the cutting position along a single, vertical plane,substantially perpendicular to both the front face of the fence assembly20 and the upper face of the table 13. In contrast, an exemplarymiter-cutting operation is also schematically illustrated in phantomlines in FIG. 5, in which the plane of movement of the saw blade 14remains perpendicular to the table 13, but is swung to a preselectedmiter angle relative to the fence assembly 20, as indicated by referencenumeral 14 a, and in which the movable fence portion 24 has beenpreselectively adjusted, as indicated by reference numeral 24 a, toincrease the clearance gap between the fixed and movable fence portions22 and 24 a, respectively, in order to provide sufficient clearance forthe saw blade 14 a and associated components in a miter-cuttingposition.

Similarly, FIG. 6 illustrates the saw blade 14 and the movable fenceportion 24 in a schematic elevational view, showing the position of thesaw blade 14 and the movable fence portion 24 in solid lines forperforming the above-described straight, square, cross-cuttingoperation, with the relative positions of the saw blade 14 and themovable fence portion 24 being shown in phantom lines, as indicated byreference numerals 14 b and 24 b, respectively, for performing adifferent type of mitering operation wherein a bevel cut is performed onthe workpiece, with the plane of movement of the saw blade 14 b beinggenerally perpendicular to the face of the fence assembly 20, butoriented at a bevel or miter angle with respect to the table assembly13.

Although not specifically illustrated in the drawings, one skilled inthe art will readily recognize, from the exemplary positionsdramatically illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, that the miter-cuttingoperation can be combined with the bevel-cutting operation in order toperform an operation commonly known as a compound cut, wherein the sawblade moves in a plane that is not perpendicular to either the front ofthe fence assembly 20 or the upper face table assembly 13, thusperforming a beveled and mitered, or “compound mitered”, cut through theworkpiece.

Thus, the compound miter saw 10 shown for purposes of illustration inthe drawings is capable of at least four general types of cuttingoperations, to which reference is made herein as cross-cutting,miter-cutting, bevel-cutting and compound cutting operations. Suchtypically infinite compound adjustability of the relative position andorientation of the saw blade relative to both the table assembly 13 andthe fence assembly 20 is accomplished by way of a compound pivotmechanism 34, illustrated generally in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such compoundpivot mechanism 34 can be any of a number of well-known compoundmechanisms, which also allow the saw blade 14 and the blade guard 16 tobe pivotally moved from a raised, clear position to a lowered or cuttingposition, once the saw is adjusted to the desired operating mode, inorder to perform a cutting operation on the workpiece 11.

In order to accommodate the widely divergent positions and orientationsof the saw blade 14 relative to the fence assembly 20, and in order toallow a complete cut-through operation to be performed on the workpiece11, the fence assembly 20 must be capable of selective adjustment inorder to preadjust the lateral clearance gap or spacing between thefixed and movable fence portions 22 and 24, respectively, in order toprovide the required clearance, while still providing adequate supportfor the workpiece 11. In accordance with a preferred form of the presentInvention, such fence assembly adjustability is accomplished in part bythe provision of a fence-supporting portion 26 of the base 12. Thefence-supporting portion 26 can be a separate component, fixedly securedto the base 12, or it can be an integral portion of the fixed fence 22,with an interconnecting portion 27 extending laterally across theclearance gap, behind the fixed and movable fences to the opposite sideof the saw blade to interconnect with the fixed fence 22, as shown inFIGS. 1, 3 and 5, without interfering with the complete cutting of theworkpiece 11. In either arrangement, the fence-supporting portion 26 isfixedly secured to, or interconnected with, the base 12 and is mutuallyaligned in a laterally-extending direction with the fixed fence portion22.

As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fence-supporting portion 26preferably includes a slot 46 defined by a first or front internal wall48 spaced away from a second or rear internal wall 50, in order to forma space therebetween extending laterally along the movable fence side ofthe saw blade 14. The movable fence 24 preferably includes an upperportion 40, an intermediate portion 42, a tongue portion 44 slidablyreceived within the slot 46, and a lower face of the intermediateportion 42 slidably engaging the fence-supporting portion 26. The frontfaces of the fence-supporting portion 26 and the movable fence portion24 are vertically aligned and flush with one another, as is illustratedin FIGS. 7 and 8.

In order to secure the movable fence portion 24 in a preselected,adjusted position for purposes of performing a desired cuttingoperation, two clamping arrangements are preferably provided forreleasably fixing the position of the movable fence portion 24 relativeto the fence-supporting portion 26, with their front faces flush andvertically aligned. The fixed clamping mechanism preferably includes aclamping screw 54 threadably engaging and movable within a threadedopening 56 in the fixed fence-supporting portion 26. The clamping screwis selectively rotatable by way of a manual knob 55 in order tothreadably advance the clamping screw 54 toward the tongue 44 and toclampingly and forcibly urge the tongue 44 against the front internalwall 48 of the slot 46, as shown in FIG. 7.

A movable clamping mechanism is also preferably provided, as isillustrated in FIG. 8, and a recessed portion 60 of the movable fence 24is provided to accommodate a clamping plate 62 disposed on the rear sideof the movable fence 24. The clamping plate 62 preferably includes anabutment portion 64, extending into the slot 46, which is selectivelypivotally movable into abutment with the rear internal wall 50 of theslot 46, by way of the pivotal engagement of the clamping plate 62 abouta fulcrum edge 68 of a shoulder portion 66 formed on thefence-supporting portion 26. The abutment portion 64 of the clampingplate 62 is held in its abutting relationship with the rear internalwall 50 of the slot 46 preferably by way of a threaded rod member 72fixed on the movable fence portion 24, and extending through an opening71 in the clamping plate 62 to threadably engage a locking nut 74,preferably having a knob 75 on the locking nut 74.

Thus, by threadably tightening the locking nut 74, the operator forciblyurges the locking portion 70 of the damping plate 62 toward the movablefence portion 24, which results in the abutment portion 64 of theclamping plate 62 being pivoted rearwardly about the fulcrum edge 68 inorder to abuttingly and forcibly engage the rear internal wall 50 of theslot 46. As a result of this forcible abutting engagement of theabutment portion 64 against the rear internal wall 50 of the slot 46, areactive force is exerted on the movable fence portion 24 in a frontwarddirection to forcibly and clampingly urge the tongue 44 against theforward internal wall 48 of the slot 46, thus releasably and securelyclamping the movable fence 24 in its preselected lateral positionrelative to the fixed fence 22.

This arrangement allows for example, the lateral distance between theabovediscussed fixed and movable clamping arrangements to be at itsmaximum when the movable fence 24 is adjusted to provide the minimumclearance gap, such as would be desired in straight cross-cuttingoperations, such as that shown in FIG. 1. This gives the greatest amountof uniform clamping distribution for releasably securing the movablefence 24 in this position, which in turn provides the maximum amount ofsupport for the workpiece 11. However, the fence assembly of the presentinvention allows both the clamping arrangements to be used even when themovable fence 24 must be positioned laterally farther away from thefixed fence portion 22 in order to accommodate other cutting modes. Thisis because the above-described clamping plate arrangement isinterconnected and movable with the movable fence 24. It can readily beseen that if both clamping arrangements had been fixed relative to thefence-supporting portion 26, many outwardly adjusted positions of themovable fence 24 would result in only one of the clamping arrangementsbeing usable to secure the movable fence 24 in its adjusted position,thus increasing the possibility of misalignment either vertically orlaterally with the fixed fence 22 and lessening the work-supportingcapabilities of the fence assembly 20. The fully retracted position ofthe movable fence 24 is shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, with the fullyextended position (indicated by reference numeral 24 c) is shown inphantom lines.

In order to minimize the possibility of inadvertent removal of themovable fence 24 from the table 13 and the frame 12 during positionadjustments, the front face of the tongue 44 is preferably provided withanti-removal means in the form of an elongated antiremoval groove orslot 80 extending laterally therealong and a complementary projection82, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Complementary projection 82 is fixed tothe fence-supporting portion 26 and protrudes into the slot 46 to bereceived in the antiremoval groove 80. As perhaps best seen in FIG. 9,the lateral length of the groove 80 is sufficient to allow fulladjusting movement of the movable fence 24 but insufficient to allowinadvertent removal of the movable fence 24. In addition, the clampingplate 62 also interferes with removal of the movable fence 24 unless theclamping plate 62 is first loosened.

When it is desired to intentionally remove the movable fence 24 forrepair, replacement or cleaning, however, the fixed clamping screw 54(see FIG. 7) can be sufficiently loosened, and the clamping plate 62(see FIG. 8) is loosened, allowing the movable fence 24 to be removed.

Since the movable fence 24 must be movably adjusted in order to allowthe operator to perform various cutting operations of the compound mitersaw 10, damage to the movable fence 24 could result if the operatorfails to properly adjust its lateral position. In order to minimize suchdamage, which could result from the saw blade 14 contacting amisadjusted movable fence 24, a raised portion 32 is formed generally atthe saw blade end of the movable fence 24, with the edge of such raisedportion 32 sloping generally downwardly toward the saw blade 14 and thetable assembly 13. Such raised portion 32 is sized and configured, as isschematically illustrated in FIG. 9, so that it interferingly engagesthe blade guard 16 if the blade guard 16 and the saw blade 14 are movedfrom their clear position to their cutting position when insubstantially all of the cutting set-up modes or configurations of whichthe compound miter saw 10 is capable.

In addition, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the raised portion 32of the movable fence 24, along with one or more raised portions 28 and30 on the fixed fence 22, provide an increased verticalworkpiece-supporting face or surface, which allows the operator toproperly support a relatively tall or thick workpiece. Suchincreased-height workpiece-supporting capability is especiallyadvantageous when cutting thick stock, crown moldings, or other suchrelatively tall workpiece shapes, orientations, or configurations.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates the provision of a laterallyadjustable moveable fence portion on each lateral side of an exemplarycompound miter saw according to the invention. The structure whichallows for this movement on each lateral side of the compound miter sawis the same as the structure which permits movement to one side only asillustrated in FIGS. 14 and 6, except that permanent stops whichposition saw blade 14 at its vertical position have been eliminated.These structures which permit movement on each lateral side of acompound miter saw are well known in the art. Such dual moveable fenceprovision accommodates movement to selective miter, bevel, and compoundcutting operations on either lateral side of the compound miter saw.Similarly, such an arrangement is advantageous in other work-performingdevices where work operations can be on either lateral side of thedevice, as well as being capable of accommodating large working tools,such as large shaper cutters, for example.

In such alternate arrangement, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 10,each lateral side of an exemplary compound miter saw 110 includes afence-supporting portion 126 for slidably supporting a movable fenceportion 124, with these components, as well as their respective fixedand movable clamping arrangements, being essentially the same inconfiguration and function as those discussed above, but preferablyarranged symmetrically, in a mirror-image configuration on oppositesides of the saw blade 114.

Accordingly, the exemplary compound miter saw 10 constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention provides forincreased ease of fence clearance gap adjustability, it facilitatesproper fence alignment and securement, both vertically and laterally,when performing any of the widely divergent cutting operations for whichthe compound miter saw 10 is designed, it provides increased protectionagainst inadvertent damage due to a nonadjusted or misadjusted fence,and it provides greatly improved workpiece-supporting capabilities forrelatively thick or tall workpieces.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplaryembodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only.One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, andfrom the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes,modifications, and variations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

1. A miter saw comprising: a base; a table rotatably attached to thebase; a saw assembly pivotably connected to the table, said saw assemblycomprising a rotatable cutting tool, a motor driving the cutting tool,and a housing covering the motor, the cutting tool being pivotablymovable about a chopping axis in order to move the cutting tool towardsthe table for cutting a workpiece, the cutting tool being movablebetween a first position substantially perpendicular to the table, asecond position inclined in a first direction from the first position toform a first acute angle with respect to the table, and a third positioninclined in a second direction from the first position to form a secondacute angle with respect to the table, the second direction beingopposite to the first direction; a first fence assembly disposed on oneside of the base, the first fence assembly comprising a first fixedfence attached to the base, and a first movable fence beinginterconnected with the first fixed fence, the first movable fence beingselectively laterally movable to provide clearance for said cutting toolwhen said cutting tool is in said second position, said first fixedfence including a first fixed workpiece-supporting surface, and saidfirst movable fence including a first movable workpiece-supportingsurface; and a second fence assembly disposed on the other side of thebase, the second fence assembly comprising a second fixed fence attachedto the base with respect to said cutting tool, and a second movablefence being interconnected with the second fixed fence, the secondmovable fence being selectively laterally movable to provide clearancefor said cutting tool when said cutting tool is in said third position,said second fixed fence including a second fixed workpiece-supportingsurface, and said second movable fence including a second movableworkpiece-supporting surface.
 2. The miter saw of claim 1, furthercomprising a handle connected to the housing, the handle beingsubstantially horizontal.
 3. The miter saw of claim 1, wherein thechopping axis is above the first fence assembly.
 4. The miter saw ofclaim 1, wherein the saw assembly is movable along a vertical planesubstantially perpendicular to the table.
 5. The miter saw of claim 1,further comprising first anti-removal means for inhibiting removal ofthe first movable fence from the first fixed fence.
 6. The miter saw ofclaim 5, further comprising second anti-removal means for inhibitingremoval of the second movable fence from the second fixed fence.
 7. Themiter saw of claim 1, further comprising a first member attached to saidfirst fixed fence for releasably holding the first movable fence in apredetermined position in relation to the first movable fence.
 8. Themiter saw of claim 7, further comprising a second member attached tosaid second fixed fence for releasably holding the second movable fencein a predetermined position in relation to the second fixed fence.
 9. Acompound miter saw comprising: a base; a table rotatably supported bysaid base, said table and said base defining a first planarworkpiece-supporting surface; a saw blade rotatably supported by saidbase; an adjustable, laterally-extending, workpiece-supporting fenceassembly, said fence assembly including a first fixed fence fixedlyinterconnected with the base and disposed on one side of the saw blade,and a movable fence selectively laterally movable and interconnectedwith the base and disposed on said one side of said saw blade, saidfirst fixed fence defining a second planar workpiece-supporting surfacewhich extends a first distance from said first planarworkpiece-supporting surface and said movable fence defining a thirdplanar workpiece-supporting surface which extends a second distance fromsaid first fixed fence, said first fixed fence and said movable fencebeing located on said one side of said saw blade, said second distancebeing greater than said first distance.
 10. A compound miter sawaccording to claim 9, further comprising a second fixed fence fixedlyinterconnected with the base and disposed on an opposite side of the sawblade, said second fixed fence further defining said second planarworkpiece-supporting surface.
 11. A compound miter saw according toclaim 10, wherein, said second fixed fence is integral with said firstfixed fence.
 12. A compound miter saw according to claim 9, furthercomprising a fixed clamping means fixedly interconnected to said basefor selectively and clampingly securing said movable fence to the base.13. A compound miter saw according to claim 9, further comprising afixed clamping means fixedly interconnected to said base for selectivelyand clampingly securing said movable fence to the base, and a movableclamping means fixedly interconnected with said movable fence forselectively and clampingly securing said movable fence to the base. 14.A miter saw comprising: a base; a table rotatably attached to the base;a saw assembly pivotably connected to the table, said saw assemblycomprising a rotatable cutting tool, a motor driving the cutting tool,and a housing covering the motor, the cutting tool being pivotablymovable about a chopping axis in order to move the cutting tool towardsthe table for cutting a workpiece, the cutting tool being movablebetween a first position substantially perpendicular to the table, asecond position inclined in a first direction from the first position toform a first acute angle with respect to the table, and a third positioninclined in a second direction from the first position to form a secondacute angle with respect to the table, the second direction beingopposite to the first direction; a first fence assembly disposed on oneside of the base, the first fence assembly comprising a first fixedfence attached to the base, and a first movable fence beinginterconnected with the first fixed fence, the first movable fence beingselelectively laterally movable to provide clearance for said cuttingtool when said cutting tool is in said second position, said first fixedfence including a first fixed workpiece-supporting surface, and saidfirst movable fence including a first movable workpiece-supportingsurface; and a second fence assembly disposed on the other side of thebase, the second fence assembly comprising a second fixed fence attachedto the base with respect to said cutting tool, and a second movablefence being interconnected with the second fixed fence, the secondmovable fence being movable to provide clearance for said cutting toolwhen said cutting tool is in said third position, said second fixedfence including a second fixed workpiece-supporting surface, and saidsecond movable fence including a second movable workpiece-supportingsurface; wherein said first moveable fence is selectively laterallymoveable to a position between said first fixed fence and said cuttingtool.
 15. The miter saw of claim 14, wherein said second moveable fenceis moveable to a position between said second fixed fence and saidcutting tool.
 16. A compound miter saw comprising: a base; a tablerotatably supported by said base, said table and said base defining afirst planar workpiece-supporting surface; a saw blade rotatablysupported by said base; an adjustable, laterally-extending,workpiece-supporting fence assembly, said fence assembly including afirst fixed fence fixedly interconnected with the base and disposed onone side of the saw blade, and a movable fence selectively laterallymovable and interconnected with the base and disposed on said one sideof said saw blade, said first fixed fence defining a second planarworkpiece-supporting surface which extends a first distance from saidfirst planar workpiece-supporting surface and said movable fencedefining a third planar workpiece-supporting surface which extends asecond distance from said first fixed fence, said first fixed fence andsaid movable fence being located on said one side of said saw blade,said second distance being greater than said first distance; whereinsaid moveable fence is moveable to a position between said first fixedfence and said saw blade.
 17. A miter saw comprising: a base; a tablerotatably attached to the base; a saw assembly pivotably connected tothe table, said saw assembly comprising a rotatable cutting tool, amotor driving the cutting tool, and a housing covering the motor, thecutting tool being pivotably movable about a chopping axis in order tomove the cutting tool towards the table for cutting a workpiece, thecutting tool being movable between a first position substantiallyperpendicular to the table, a second position inclined in a firstdirection from the first position to form a first acute angle withrespect to the table, and a third position inclined in a seconddirection from the first position to form a second acute angle withrespect to the table, the second direction being opposite to the firstdirection; a first fence assembly disposed on one side of the base, thefirst fence assembly comprising a first fixed fence attached to thebase, and a first movable fence being interconnected with the firstfixed fence, the first movable fence being selectively laterally movableto provide clearance for said cutting tool when said cutting tool is insaid second position, said first fixed fence including a first fixedworkpiece-supporting surface, and said first movable fence including afirst movable workpiece-supporting surface; and a second fence assemblydisposed on the other side of the base, the second fence assemblycomprising a second fixed fence attached to the base with a respect tosaid cutting tool, and a second movable fence being interconnected withthe second fixed fence, the second movable fence being movable toprovide clearance for said cutting tool when said cutting tool is insaid third position; said second fixed fence including a second fixedworkpiece-supporting surface, and said second movable fence including asecond movable workpiece-supporting surface; wherein said first movablefence is selectively laterally movable to a position adjacent saidcutting tool when said cutting tool is in said first position.
 18. Themiter saw of claim 19, wherein said second movable fence is movable to aposition adjacent said cutting tool when said cutting tool is in saidfirst position.
 19. A compound miter saw comprising: a base; a tablerotatably supported by said base, said table and said base defining afirst planar workpiece-supporting surface; a saw blade rotatablysupported by said base; an adjustable, laterally-extending,workpiece-supporting fence assembly, said fence assembly including afirst fixed fence fixedly interconnected with the base and disposed onone side of the saw blade, and a movable fence selectively laterallymovable and interconnected with the base and disposed on said one sideof said saw blade, said first fixed fence defining a second planarworkpiece-supporting surface which extends a first distance from saidfirst planar workpiece-supporting surface and said movable fencedefining a third planar workpiece-supporting surface which extends asecond distance from said first fixed fence, said first fixed fence andsaid movable fence being located on said one side of said saw blade,said second distance being greater than said first distance; whereinsaid movable fence is movable to a position adjacent said saw blade.